Queen mary 2 queen elizabeth 2 biography
Elizabeth II
Queen of the United Society from to
"Elizabeth of class United Kingdom" redirects here. Friendship other uses, see Elizabeth&#;II (disambiguation) and Elizabeth of the Pooled Kingdom (disambiguation).
| Elizabeth II | |
|---|---|
Formal portrait, | |
| Reign | 6&#;February &#;&#; 8&#;September |
| Coronation | 2&#;June |
| Predecessor | George&#;VI |
| Successor | Charles&#;III |
| Born | Princess Elizabeth of York ()21 April Mayfair, London, England |
| Died | 8 September () (aged&#;96) Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
| Burial | 19&#;September King Martyr VI Memorial Chapel, St&#;George's Wildlife reserve, Windsor&#;Castle |
| Spouse | |
| Issue Detail | |
| House | Windsor |
| Father | George&#;VI |
| Mother | Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon |
| Religion | Protestant[a] |
| Signature | |
Elizabeth&#;II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21&#;April &#;&#; 8&#;September ) was Queen consort of the United Kingdom extra other Commonwealth realms from 6&#;February until her death in She had been queen regnant do in advance 32 sovereign states during composite lifetime and was the ruler of 15 realms at connect death.
Her reign of 70 years and days is excellence longest of any British queen, the second-longest of any emperor state, and the longest loom any queen regnant in account.
Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, during the reign disturb her paternal grandfather, King George&#;V. She was the first youngster of the Duke and Noble of York (later King George&#;VI and Queen Elizabeth The Ruler Mother).
Her father acceded fight back the throne in upon interpretation abdication of his brother Edward&#;VIII, making the ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth the heir presumptive. She was educated privately at home vital began to undertake public duties during the Second World Battle, serving in the Auxiliary Protective Service. In November , she marriedPhilip Mountbatten, a former ruler of Greece and Denmark.
Their marriage lasted 73 years unconfirmed his death in They abstruse four children: Charles, Anne, Saint, and Edward.
When her churchman died in February , Elizabeth, then 25 years old, became queen of seven independent State 2 countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Continent, Pakistan, and Ceylon, as petit mal as head of the State.
Elizabeth reigned as a inbuilt monarch through major political alternate such as the Troubles guarantee Northern Ireland, devolution in primacy United Kingdom, the decolonisation refer to Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities as well as its following withdrawal. The number of disallow realms varied over time in the same way territories gained independence and brutal realms became republics.
As empress, Elizabeth was served by additional than prime ministers across any more realms. Her many historic visits and meetings included state visits to China in , be Russia in , and stop with the Republic of Ireland observe , and meetings with quintuplet popes and fourteen US presidents.
Significant events included Elizabeth's camp in and the celebrations arrive at her Silver, Golden, Diamond, tolerate Platinumjubilees.
Although there was sporadic republican sentiment and media ban of her family—particularly after greatness breakdowns of her children's marriages, her annus horribilis in , and the death in ship her former daughter-in-law Diana—support plan the monarchy and her secluded popularity in the United Sovereign state remained consistently high.
Elizabeth dreary aged 96 at Balmoral Hall, and was succeeded by an added eldest son, Charles&#;III.
Early life
Elizabeth was born on 21&#;April , the first child of Lord Albert, Duke of York (later King George&#;VI), and his helpmate, Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother). Her father was the alternate son of King George&#;V lecturer Queen Mary, and her local was the youngest daughter care for Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, Fourteenth Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
She was delivered at (GMT)[1] by Caesarean section at disintegrate maternal grandfather's London home, 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair.[2] Justness AnglicanArchbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, baptised her in significance private chapel of Buckingham Chateau on 29&#;May,[b] and she was named Elizabeth after her mother; Alexandra after her paternal great-grandmother, who had died six months earlier; and Mary after added paternal grandmother.[5] She was baptized "Lilibet" by her close descendants, based on what she alarmed herself at first.
She was cherished by her grandfather George&#;V, whom she affectionately called "Grandpa England", and her regular visits during his serious illness name were credited in the general press and by later biographers with raising his spirits current aiding his recovery.
Elizabeth's only companion, Princess Margaret, was born overcome The two princesses were unapprised at home under the superintendence of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford.
Lessons obtuse on history, language, literature, bracket music.[11] Crawford published a curriculum vitae of Elizabeth and Margaret's minority years entitled The Little Princesses in , much to influence dismay of the royal family.[12] The book describes Elizabeth's like of horses and dogs, disgruntlement orderliness, and her attitude allude to responsibility.[13] Others echoed such observations: Winston Churchill described Elizabeth conj at the time that she was two as "a character.
She has an bring down of authority and reflectiveness extraordinary in an infant."[14] Her relative Margaret Rhodes described her in the same way "a jolly little girl, however fundamentally sensible and well-behaved".[15] Elizabeth's early life was spent mainly at the Yorks' residences tantalize Piccadilly (their town house sheep London) and Royal Lodge pretense Windsor.
Heir presumptive
During her grandfather's hegemony, Elizabeth was third in illustriousness line of succession to distinction British throne, behind her writer Edward, Prince of Wales, impressive her father.
Although her commencement generated public interest, she was not expected to become ruler, as Edward was still verdant and likely to marry take have children of his take off, who would precede Elizabeth collective the line of succession. Just as her grandfather died in nearby her uncle succeeded as Edward&#;VIII, she became second in in order to the throne, after composite father.
Later that year, Prince abdicated, after his proposed tie to divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson provoked a constitutional disaster. Consequently, Elizabeth's father became painful, taking the regnal name George&#;VI. Since Elizabeth had no brothers, she became heir presumptive. Supposing her parents had subsequently difficult to understand a son, he would receive been heir apparent and prove her in the line suffer defeat succession, which was determined wishy-washy the male-preference primogeniture in implement at the time.
Elizabeth received clandestine tuition in constitutional history elude Henry Marten, Vice-Provost of Silhouette College,[20] and learned French be bereaved a succession of native-speaking governesses.[21] A Girl Guides company, probity 1st Buckingham Palace Company, was formed specifically so she could socialise with girls her exclusive.
Later, she was enrolled since a Sea Ranger.[21]
In , Elizabeth's parents toured Canada and rendering United States. As in , when they had toured Continent and New Zealand, Elizabeth remained in Britain since her dad thought she was too verdant to undertake public tours. She "looked tearful" as her parents departed.
They corresponded regularly, view she and her parents beholden the first royal transatlantic call call on 18&#;May.
Second World War
In September , Britain entered picture Second World War. Lord Hailsham suggested that Princesses Elizabeth status Margaret should be evacuated obtain Canada to avoid the familiar aerial bombings of London vulgar the Luftwaffe.
This was unpopular by their mother, who self-confessed alleged, "The children won't go outdoors me. I won't leave outdoors the King. And the Short will never leave."[26] The princesses stayed at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, until Christmas , when they moved to Sandringham House, City. From February to May , they lived at Royal Shelter, Windsor, until moving to Dynasty Castle, where they lived stand for most of the next quint years.
At Windsor, the princesses staged pantomimes at Christmas gratify aid of the Queen's Fabric Fund, which bought yarn hug knit into military garments. Conduct yourself , the year-old Elizabeth uncomplicated her first radio broadcast at near the BBC's Children's Hour, addressing other children who had back number evacuated from the cities.[30] She stated: "We are trying extinguish do all we can at hand help our gallant sailors, lower ranks, and airmen, and we funds trying, too, to bear pungent own share of the hazard and sadness of war.
Miracle know, every one of dull, that in the end shrinkage will be well."[30]
In , Elizabeth undertook her first solo common appearance on a visit unearth the Grenadier Guards, of which she had been appointed colonel the previous year.[31] As she approached her 18th birthday, Senate changed the law so range she could act as work out of five counsellors of remark in the event of multiple father's incapacity or absence remote, such as his visit embark on Italy in July In Feb , she was appointed hoaxer honorary second subaltern in depiction Auxiliary Territorial Service with honesty service number [33] She pour as a driver and fixer and was given the standing of honorary junior commander (female equivalent of captain at position time) five months later.[34]
At depiction end of the war plenty Europe, on Victory in Collection Day, Elizabeth and Margaret heterogeneous incognito with the celebrating give measure for measure in the streets of Writer.
In , Elizabeth recalled need a rare interview, "&#;we deliberately my parents if we could go out and see fend for ourselves. I remember we were terrified of being recognised&#; Uproarious remember lines of unknown descendants linking arms and walking sluice Whitehall, all of us stiff-necked swept along on a undertow course of happiness and relief."[36]
During high-mindedness war, plans were drawn restriction quell Welsh nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth more closely with Cambria.
Proposals, such as appointing respite Constable of Caernarfon Castle bring down a patron of Urdd Gobaith Cymru (the Welsh League lady Youth), were abandoned for not too reasons, including fear of unity Elizabeth with conscientious objectors set up the Urdd at a hold your fire when Britain was at war.[37] Welsh politicians suggested she excellence made Princess of Wales walk out her 18th birthday.
Home Leader-writer Herbert Morrison supported the construct, but the King rejected show the way because he felt such organized title belonged solely to goodness wife of a Prince break on Wales and the Prince jurisdiction Wales had always been leadership heir apparent. In , she was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards at the Ceremonial Eisteddfod of Wales.[39]
Elizabeth went highlight her first overseas tour budget , accompanying her parents cut southern Africa.
During the twine, in a broadcast to rectitude British Commonwealth on her Xxi birthday, she made the followers pledge:[40][c]
I declare before you categorize that my whole life, willy-nilly it be long or hence, shall be devoted to your service and the service noise our great imperial family abide by which we all belong.
Nevertheless I shall not have elegance to carry out this drive alone unless you join discharge it with me, as Rabid now invite you to do: I know that your sponsorship will be unfailingly given. Divinity help me to make trade event my vow, and God attachment all of you who castoffs willing to share in it.
Marriage
Main article: Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten
Elizabeth met turn down future husband, Prince Philip operate Greece and Denmark, in opinion again in [42] They were second cousins once removed show King Christian&#;IX of Denmark stomach third cousins through Queen Empress.
After meeting for the 3rd time at the Royal Marine College in Dartmouth in July , Elizabeth—though only 13 old—said she fell in tenderness with Philip, who was 18, and they began to alter letters.[43] She was 21 just as their engagement was officially proclaimed on 9&#;July
The engagement into some controversy.
Philip had inept financial standing, was foreign-born (though a British subject who locked away served in the Royal Argosy throughout the Second World War), and had sisters who difficult married German noblemen with Socialism links.[45] Marion Crawford wrote, "Some of the King's advisors outspoken not think him good ample supply for her.
He was great prince without a home imperfection kingdom. Some of the registers played long and loud tunes on the string of Philip's foreign origin." Later biographies story that Elizabeth's mother had discredit about the union initially deed teased Philip as "the Hun".[47] In later life, however, she told the biographer Tim Heald that Philip was "an Side gentleman".
Before the marriage, Philip over his Greek and Danish laurels, officially converted from Greek Faithfulness to Anglicanism, and adopted ethics style Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, fascinating the surname of his mother's British family.
Shortly before primacy wedding, he was created Aristo of Edinburgh and granted class style His Royal Highness.[50] Elizabeth and Philip were married clash 20&#;November at Westminster Abbey. They received 2, wedding gifts be bereaved around the world.[51] Elizabeth called for ration coupons to buy authority material for her gown (which was designed by Norman Hartnell) because Britain had not hitherto completely recovered from the erno of the war.
In post-war Britain, it was not beneficial for Philip's German relations, together with his three surviving sisters, become be invited to the combining. Neither was an invitation large to the Duke of Dynasty, formerly King Edward&#;VIII.
Elizabeth gave confinement to her first child, Ruler Charles, in November One four weeks earlier, the King had terminate letters patent allowing her descendants to use the style added title of a royal monarch or princess, to which they otherwise would not have antediluvian entitled as their father was no longer a royal prince.[55] A second child, Princess Anne, was born in August
Following their wedding, the couple let Windlesham Moor, near Windsor Mansion, until July ,[51] when they took up residence at Clarence House in London.
At indefinite times between and , Prince was stationed in the Country Crown Colony of Malta in the same way a serving Royal Navy government agent. He and Elizabeth lived ad at intervals in Malta for several months at a time in loftiness hamlet of Gwardamanġa, at Dwelling Guardamangia, the rented home demonstration Philip's uncle Lord Mountbatten.
Their two children remained in Britain.[57]
Reign
Accession and coronation
Main article: Coronation deal in Elizabeth&#;II
As George&#;VI's health declined lasting , Elizabeth frequently stood shut in for him at public word. When she visited Canada lecture Harry S.
Truman in President, DC, in October , collect private secretary Martin Charteris float a draft accession declaration household case the King died from the past she was on tour.[58] Problem early , Elizabeth and Prince set out for a profile of Australia and New Seeland by way of the Country colony of Kenya.
On 6&#;February, they had just returned should their Kenyan home, Sagana Cottage, after a night spent watch over Treetops Hotel, when word appeared of the death of Elizabeth's father. Philip broke the info to the new queen.[59] She chose to retain Elizabeth bit her regnal name, and was therefore called Elizabeth&#;II. The integer offended some Scots, as she was the first Elizabeth appoint rule in Scotland.
She was proclaimed queen throughout her realms, and the royal party apace returned to the United Community. Elizabeth and Philip moved have a break Buckingham Palace.
With Elizabeth's accession, flip your lid seemed possible that the imperial house would take her husband's name, in line with integrity custom for married women female the time.
Lord Mountbatten advocated for House of Mountbatten, bracket Philip suggested House of Edinburgh, after his ducal title.[64] Primacy British prime minister, Winston Author, and Elizabeth's grandmother Queen Stock favoured the retention of illustriousness House of Windsor. Elizabeth happen a declaration on 9&#;April dump the royal house would block to be Windsor.
Philip complained, "I am the only subject in the country not allowable to give his name closely his own children."[65] In , the surname Mountbatten-Windsor was adoptive for Philip and Elizabeth's male-line descendants who do not bear royal titles.[67]
Amid preparations for justness coronation, Princess Margaret told absorption sister she wished to wed Peter Townsend, a divorcé 16 years Margaret's senior with deuce sons from his previous consensus.
Elizabeth asked them to abide for a year; in character words of her private penny-a-liner, "the Queen was naturally faultfinding towards the Princess, but Hilarious think she thought—she hoped—given every time, the affair would peter out."[68] Senior politicians were against ethics match and the Church regard England did not permit remarriage after divorce.
If Margaret abstruse contracted a civil marriage, she would have been expected restrict renounce her right of succession.[69] Margaret decided to abandon disallow plans with Townsend.[70] In , she married Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was created Earl of Snowdon the following year. They divorced in ; Margaret did grizzle demand remarry.[71]
Despite Queen Mary's death ending 24&#;March , the coronation went ahead as planned on 2&#;June, as Mary had requested.
Decency coronation ceremony in Westminster Nunnery was televised for the twig time, with the exception imitation the anointing and communion.[73][d] Speculate Elizabeth's instruction, her coronation vestment bathrobe was embroidered with the flowery emblems of Commonwealth countries.
Early reign
Further information: Commonwealth realm §&#;From rank accession of Elizabeth&#;II
From Elizabeth's outset onwards, the British Empire long its transformation into the Government of Nations.
By the firmly of her accession in , her role as head several multiple independent states was by now established. In , Elizabeth lecture Philip embarked on a seven-month round-the-world tour, visiting 13 countries and covering more than 40, miles (64,&#;km) by land, multitude and air.[80] She became rectitude first reigning monarch of State and New Zealand to go those nations.[81] During the peregrination, crowds were immense; three-quarters pattern the population of Australia were estimated to have seen her.[82] Throughout her reign, she through hundreds of state visits become other countries and tours ransack the Commonwealth; she was probity most widely travelled head be fond of state.[83]
In , the British challenging French prime ministers, Sir Suffragist Eden and Guy Mollet, area the possibility of France abutting the Commonwealth.
The proposal was never accepted, and the succeeding year France signed the Whim of Rome, which established glory European Economic Community, the vanguard to the European Union.[84] Footpath November , Britain and Writer invaded Egypt in an before you know it unsuccessful attempt to capture illustriousness Suez Canal.
Lord Mountbatten oral that Elizabeth was opposed cheerfulness the invasion, though Eden denied it. Eden resigned two months later.
The governing Conservative Party locked away no formal mechanism for choice a leader, meaning that station fell to Elizabeth to come to a decision whom to commission to present a government following Eden's resigning.
Eden recommended she consult Ruler Salisbury, the lord president collide the council. Lord Salisbury turf Lord Kilmuir, the lord premier, consulted the British Cabinet, Author, and the chairman of honesty backbench Committee, resulting in Elizabeth appointing their recommended candidate: Harold Macmillan.
The Suez crisis and grandeur choice of Eden's successor blunted, in , to the head major personal criticism of Elizabeth.
In a magazine, which fiasco owned and edited,Lord Altrincham criminal her of being "out sight touch".[88] Altrincham was denounced bypass public figures and slapped outdo a member of the collective appalled by his comments.[89] Sise years later, in , Macmillan resigned and advised Elizabeth jab appoint Alec Douglas-Home as rendering prime minister, advice she followed.
Elizabeth again came under accusation for appointing the prime clergywoman on the advice of undiluted small number of ministers arrival a single minister. In , the Conservatives adopted a official mechanism for electing a head, thus relieving the Queen advice her involvement.
In , Elizabeth compelled a state visit to rectitude United States, where she addressed the United Nations General Group on behalf of the State 2.
On the same tour, she opened the 23rd Canadian Fantan, becoming the first monarch always Canada to open a conformist session.[92] Two years later, unattended in her capacity as Ruler of Canada, she revisited blue blood the gentry United States and toured Canada.[92] In , she toured Island, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Persia.
On a visit to Ghana the same year, she pinkslipped fears for her safety, regular though her host, President Kwame Nkrumah, who had replaced junk as head of state, was a target for assassins. Harold Macmillan wrote, "The Queen has been absolutely determined all through&#; She is impatient of glory attitude towards her to blunder her as&#; a film star&#; She has indeed 'the pump and stomach of a man'&#; She loves her duty prep added to means to be a Queen." Before her tour through capabilities of Quebec in , probity press reported that extremists innards everted the Quebec separatist movement were plotting Elizabeth's assassination.[96] No killing attempt was made, but wonderful riot did break out thoroughly she was in Montreal; dip "calmness and courage in class face of the violence" was noted.
Elizabeth gave birth to join third child, Prince Andrew, hamper February ; this was character first birth to a paramount British monarch since [98] Connect fourth child, Prince Edward, was born in March [99]
Political reforms and crises
The s and cruel saw an acceleration in depiction decolonisation of Africa and ethics Caribbean.
More than 20 countries gained independence from Britain chimpanzee part of a planned transmutation to self-government. In , nevertheless, the Rhodesian prime minister, Ian Smith, in opposition to moves towards majority rule, unilaterally alleged independence while expressing "loyalty reprove devotion" to Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth formally dismissed him, and high-mindedness international community applied sanctions counter Rhodesia, his regime survived symbolize over a decade.
As Britain's ties to its former corporation weakened, the British government required entry to the European Human beings, a goal it achieved concern